New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-23
4 PLOT AG1INST BATTERY PARK


The language employed in designating the
fourth route recently laid out by the Rapid
Transit Commission which tho Manhattan
Hallway Company hts tenderly nursed for
sixty days, is SO peculiarly vague and so full
OF possibilities touching Battery Park that 1T
is worthy of reproduction. II runs thus
Commencing at Battery place. at or near the present
station OF the New-York Elevated Railroad Company
near the intersection OF Greenwchst, there connect
ing with route no. p thence orer through and along
Raiferh place aud Battery Park follorn0 The line Of me
resed Heic- York Eierated Railroad aud on the westerly
SIDE thereof TO point about 800 feet west from the
eastory boundary line of Battery Park thence with
a loop formed of tahgents and curves with radi OF
not less than about 40 feet each over through and
along Battery Park and whitehall-st, to and inter
sectIng with tho present tracks OF the New-York Ele
eated Railroad Company at point situated north
westerly from its present station at or near the ferry
to Hamtonave.
TO appreciate tho def work done in the
interest Of the Manhattan Company in secur-
ing desirable phraseology for this route,
ono should have been present at the session OF
tho Commission when the route was laid out.
There was ostensibly vast amount of pW-
cling over the matter. as if it were under con-
sideration for the first time. Commissioner
Anderson was convinced that it was
all right only after Commissioner
Worthen had illustrated the thing
with string, presumably on the
now YOU sec it-and-now you-don't principle.
The Manhattan Companys counsel urged upon
tho Commission TIC view that 1t would not do
to designate the route, especially the radius
mart OF it. tos definitely for she Manhattan
might subsequently find that it did not have
room enough TO turn around in. And so the
route was laid out on the artistic style of ex-
cecdingly broad treatment, with the Manhat-
tan's open nav in the background.
Now, so far as tho phraseology is concerned,
what is there in it to prevent the Manhattan
Company from swooping down as far west as
il pleases from tho eastern line OF Battery
Park after leaving the elevated station at
or near Grcenwich-st. II simply has to
follow tho present line on the westerly side
thereof Tho next landing point, 300 feet
west OF the easterly boundary Of Battery Park
NAV be no encroachmcnt on tho Park; neither
is tho present South Ferry station. But what
81 tho hne connecting this point and the start
ing point az the station at Battery place
This is indeed vagucness wandering oyer
tho earth. Tho Manhattan Company, alter
wears Of experience and after presenting ideas
presumably carefully considered, is so much
in doubt at this late day that it docs not know
what it wants-or what it does not want
What supreme idiocy-or chicanery A com
mission acting for the good of the city which
will leave ono Of her parks at the mercy OF a
railroad corporation in this manner is aoso'
lutcy derehct and does nos act for the puollc
welfare. Fortunately our parks arc protected
by statute. But yet no vigilance must DC
spared to prevent the Manhattan Company
from entering further in this park, say WIN
force Of men on Saturday midnight ahu
opcc there. holding its booty through tha'
Lind Of protracted litigation in which it Is
proficient the mere threat of which appears
to keep that corporation in its present pos
session in Battery Park, secured through
kind of trickery which it might possibly ike
to repeat.